U. Of Southern Calif. Blocks Rival's 'SC' Trademark

Law360, New York (August 7, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT) -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that the University of South Carolina cannot register its own version of an “SC” trademark because it would infringe the trademark of the University of Southern California.

Administrative Law Judge Charles Grendel of the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled on Aug. 1 that the Southern California college had priority over its South Carolina counterpart, and that South Carolina's version of the mark created a substantial likelihood of confusion.